James Madison Preparatory School

James Madison's Class of 2007.

James Madison Preparatory School (abbreviated as JMPS) is a charter school started in 2000 in Tempe, Arizona. The school was founded by brothers Stephen Batchelder and David Batchelder and serves grades 7-12.

History

JMPS was founded by the Batchelder brothers to "challenge committed students with a robust, traditional education emphasizing America’s history and system of government."^[1] It is a classical liberal arts school which seeks to promote understanding of American history. The school focuses on developing students' understanding of the United States Constitution.

In its first year of operation JMPS had 49 enrolled students. The school population has more than tripled since its inception, with the population capped at around 200 students. The school does not screen the students it admits.

In the second year of the school, JMPS added a junior high for grades 7-8.

Academics

JMPS was ranked as an Excelling school in Arizona for the 2008-2009 school year based on AIMS test results.^[1][2]

School Culture and Student Government

JMPS has a dress code for students emphasizing business attire such as slacks, dress shoes, and a polo or oxford shirt.

All students are required to participate in a daily chore at the end of each school day, where the students perform minor routine maintenance on the campus such as taking out classroom trash, vacuuming classrooms, and cleaning bathroom windows. The daily chore is scheduled to take between 5 and 10 minutes.

JMPS also has a student-run high school government modeled after the American three-branch system of government.

• Each year, the school holds an election to decide on the next year's student government president, who then appoints a student cabinet to help manage student affairs, including student fundraisers to fund events such as school dances.
• The Student President also nominates students to serve on a student Supreme Court, which judges and sentences minor student misconduct cases. Up to nine students may serve on the student court, for terms of up to two years. Students may be re-appointed when their terms end.
• Students are placed into homerooms, where they decide on two representatives (for each homeroom) to the school's Student Senate, which votes on Cabinet and Court appointments. The remaining students are encouraged to be involved in the Student House of Representatives, which votes on bills introduced to aid in student government.

A junior high government was installed in 2007 as a liaison between junior high students and the high school government.

Academics

Students at JMPS are required to take and pass several high-school level history, government, mathematics, science, and humanities courses, including (but not limited to):

• American History: a two-year course covering the American Revolution, the Civil War Era, the Reconstruction Era, the World War I and World War II eras, and parts of the late 20th century
• American Government: includes courses covering the United States Constitution, The Federalist Papers, and the American three-branch system of government
• Mathematics: includes courses in Algebra, Geometry, and Precalculus, and an optional Calculus course
• Science: includes introductory courses in Geology, Meteorology, and Astronomy, as well as more in-depth introductory courses for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
• Humanities: includes courses which cover classical literature such as Pride and Prejudice and The Great Gatsby, Shakespeare and other theatre scripts such as Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and The Crucible, musical appreciation, art history, and the Classical Latin language

Athletics

JMPS is a member of the Canyon Athletic Association, an Arizona athletics governing body for smaller schools. The school participates in:

• Fall: Football, Girls Volleyball, Cheerleading, Ultimate Frisbee, Cross Country
• Winter: Girls and Boys Basketball
• Spring: Soccer, Track and Field, Boys Baseball, Girls Softball

Fine arts

The JMPS Fine Arts programs include a choir and string section. Both perform rehearsed pieces at school concerts, and are open to any students interested in joining them. The presence of these groups on campus is determined entirely by student interest; the JMPS Fine Arts program also included a jazz band until the year 2007.

JMPS also fields a student drum corps and Color Guard, which practices during the fall and performs at football games for both JMPS and (on occasion) Mesa Community College. The drum corps and color guard occasionally perform during the winter and spring at JMPS basketball or soccer games.

JMPS also puts on several theatrical productions each year, including (but not limited to):

• A fall/winter dramatic production (open to audition for grades 9-12)
• A spring musical (open to audition for grades 7-12)
• An optional spring production performed by the 8th grade

References

External links

• James Madison Preparatory School
• Schoolmatters
• Best Charter Schools in Maricopa County